The hill station of Panchgani in Maharashtra has had several lives. It began as a colonial-era sanatorium town, full of British officers seeking agreeable temperatures and “pure air.” In the ’60s and ’70s, it became a boarding school haven. In the ’90s, it discovered tourism. In recent years, it has become the weekend-hopping ground of city dwellers armed with playlists and picnic baskets, Instagramming strawberry carts with great urgency.
Through all of that, through the cafés with chalkboard menus, the boutique homestays painted in millennial pastels, the short-lived bohemian bakeries, Il Palazzo, a century-old gem, stayed exactly as it was.
Not preserved. Not frozen. Not restored. Simply… consistent.
A House That Watched Panchgani Grow Up
Il Palazzo was already a presence when most of the town’s landmarks were still saplings. Its verandahs have seen horse-drawn buggies turn into Ambassadors, Ambassadors into Maruti vans, Maruti vans into SUVs. Over the decades, guests have arrived with handwritten letters, then transistor radios, then pagers, then portable TVs, then flip phones, and now smartphones… and yet the staff still hands over brass keys the same way they always did: with neither formality nor flourish.
It has quietly adaptedbut never advertised its evolution. Ceilings were fitted with concealed fans, and later with discreet air-conditioners. Wi-Fi arrived, but only after someone asked for it, without drama. The tiled roof was reinforced. But the creak in the wooden floorboards? Left exactly as it was, presumably because it had earned its right to speak.
When Permanence Becomes a Form of Hospitality
Most modern hotels attempt to distract you into pleasure, through novelty, entertainment, curated diversity. Il Palazzo does nothing of the sort. Its proposition is less escape and more exhale.
There are no slogans about wellness or slow living. Yet life is lived slowly. Morning tea still appears on the verandah in kettles that predate most influencers. Staff members know your second-cup preference before you finish your first. A chair beneath a jackfruit tree is not called a “meditation zone”, it is simply a chair beneath a jackfruit tree.
A Culinary Heritage Preserved
Dining at Il Palazzo is a passage into tradition. The menu leans heavily on a cherished collection of Parsi recipes, alongside regional Maharashtrian favourites and beloved North Indian classics. Each dish arrives with authenticity baked in, flavours that are soulful, nostalgic and deeply satisfying. For many guests, the meal becomes as memorable as the stay itself: the slow-cooked dhansak, the subtly spiced curries, the desserts that wobble gently on their plates as if they’ve been performing the same ritual for decades.
Guests often leave with recipes (or the promise to return simply to taste it all again).
A Holiday of Leisure and Discovery
The pace at Il Palazzo is deliberately unhurried. Mornings begin with walks under misty skies, afternoons stretch lazily over books and tea, and the property encourages lingering over nothing in particular. But for those who like a touch of activity, there’s plenty to choose from: exploring the estate’s emerald lawns, discovering hidden corners of the gardens, visiting local strawberry farms, or playing a game with friends or family. The hotel strikes a rare balance, allowing both quiet retreat and curated engagement, ensuring every stay feels complete.
The Town Modernises; The Hotel Remains a Reference Point
Walk just five minutes from the gates and you’ll find modern Panchgani—cafés named after European desserts, stores selling kombucha alongside guavas, resorts with infinity pools precariously clinging to valley edges. It’s charming in its own way. But return to Il Palazzo and the contrast feels like changing television channels, from hyper-saturated to warm sepia.
The hotel is not against change. It just negotiates with it on its own terms.
The Secret Ingredient: Continuity
Even its kitchen is a study in long-term commitment. Recipes have been rehearsed for decades. Guests return not for surprise, but for certainty. The dhansak tastes the way they remember it tasting at age twelve, or thirty, or fifty. You cannot say that about many things anymore.
Which, perhaps, is Il Palazzo’s quietest achievement: in an age obsessed with upgrades, it remains loyal to the idea that consistency is character.
A Century Without Ceremony
As it approaches its 100th year, there will likely be no massive celebration. Maybe a few more guests than usual. Maybe a slightly larger cake. Maybe not. The house has seen a hundred years arrive and leave. It will see a hundred more, if left undisturbed.
Panchgani will continue to change. Cafés will open and close. Resorts will rebrand. People will come seeking quiet, or content, or nostalgia. Most will find only one of the three. But there is one place where all three exist in the right proportions.
And it’s been waiting, patiently, for a century.
Booking & Contact Information:
For reservations: +91 91452 05179
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilpallazzohotels?igsh=aHRrMzg4N3FteDkx
